SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun a ‘Breath of Freedom’, Says Operations VP

Jan 11, 2025

BERKELEY—Randy Reffner, a vice president of operations, said it felt like he was part of the show as he watched Shen Yun Performing Arts. Between the sweeping live orchestra and expansive stage setting with an animated backdrop, as the artists traveled through 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, so did Mr. Reffner.

“It feels you’re part of the show,” he said after seeing the performance at Zellerbach Hall on Jan. 11.

New York-based Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company, with a mission to share China before communism with audiences through music and dance.

Mr. Reffner had high praise for the dancers, capable as they were of conveying stories spanning five millennia and the spectrum of the human experience.

“It’s very skilled to be able to do everything, to interact with the different methods of different dance,” he said. “It was a quite powerful message that they were portraying.”

The message that stuck with Mr. Reffner was “to not be caught up in worldly things, but think beyond that.”

Saddened as he was that Shen Yun could not be seen in China, where the communist regime has sought to destroy traditional culture during its 75-year rule, he said Shen Yun represented hope for change.

“I think it’s a breath of freedom to show that no matter what culture you’re in, there’s always hope,” he said.

Also in the audience, and drawn into the five millennia journey, were father-daughter pair Edgar Collins and Kristi Ehrhardt.

Ms. Ehrhardt said she had no idea what to expect from the performance, which her father had wanted to see as a Christmas present.

“I was very impressed,” said Ms. Ehrhardt, a teacher. “The costumes were beautiful. The scenery and the video pictures behind were very impressive. And, yes, I learned a lot.”

Mr. Collins, who worked for the Department of Labor before retiring, said Shen Yun was a performance of great relevance to the world today.

“This was so beautiful, and it’s such a timely, timely, because of the problems we’re having now with the communist China,” he said.

“This is like a breath of fresh air, and it’s a shame that Chinese people themselves can’t see this. You know, the younger generation has probably no idea what their traditions are. And it’s just a shame that the [Chinese] government won’t allow it, maybe someday.”

Like Mr. Reffner, Mr. Collins thought Shen Yun was a spark of hope that change was on the horizon.

“I think it gives people a whole different understanding about the history and civilization in China, and the evolution and civilization in China,” he said. “[It] must give a great sense of pride to have something as beautiful as this. And so ancient. Ancient. So many years. So long. Such an old culture.”

Mr. Collins said he has a strong Christian faith himself and saw that the spirituality of traditional Chinese culture was universal.

“I can see many, many, many parallels. Same elements. Single Creator. Need for faith. A need for kindness. And all of those messages are so important,” he said. “Thank you for offering that and giving it to us in the world.”

“The message I received is that there’s always an opportunity for correction of evil problems, and there’s always an opportunity for good people to have an impact on the world. And what we have to do is have stamina and endurance,” he said. “Stamina, energy, hope, trust, faith—and good will win out.”

He also wanted to share a word of encouragement to the artists.

“You keep doing this, and you‘ll reach more people. You’ll reach more people,” he said.

Reporting by Gary Wang, Lily Yu, and Catherine Yang.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.